Jaded -narry au-

"Don't act so fucking jaded."

"I don't."

"Yeah, right. And I know you still want me."

"I stopped wanting you as soon as you walked away that summer."

"We both know that's not true."

~~~
When it all started,

Their gazes gravitated towards one another across the greasy countertop, and when ice met spring they both knew they were goners, like it or not.

They both remained open hearted,

"I love you," he whispered softly against his shoulder.

"I know," he murmured back. When the other's eyes closed, he finally whispered. "I love you too."

But after the end,

"I can't keep doing. . . This. Not anymore."

His lower lip trembled. "T-this?"

He nodded and ran a hand through his hair. "This. As in us."

The tears threatened to spill from the younger boy's eyes of spring. "Us. . ." He repeated softly, looking at the ground.

"We're through." And with those parting words, the careless boy left.

Both began to bend,

"You've really changed, huh?"

He snorted. "I never even broke my stride."
/
"You've really changed. . ."

His eyes went downcast, as they so often did these days. "Yeah," he replied softly.

One evermore jaded,

"I don't do relationships anymore."

"Why?"

"I guess I've just been hurt too many times."

The other's past faded.

"What about before?"

"I prefer to forget the past and focus on the now."

"What about your roots though?"

"I'm growing new ones everyday."